The Angels' Francisco Rodriguez has saved 40 or more games in each of the last three seasons.

AP

Come on "Sweet Lou," you're holding up the show!

With almost every organization in Major League Baseball having set the back of their rotation at this point in Spring Training, Cubs' manager Lou Piniella has the fantasy baseball world tapping their feet in agony. With one swift announcement on whom his closer will be for the 2008 season, Piniella would allow fantasy owners to complete the all important "closer sheet" for their upcoming drafts and auctions. Owners need not fret, however, as chances are good that Carlos Marmol -- who was virtually unhittable in 2007 -- is set to earn the job, with Bobby Howry and Kerry Wood on the outside looking in.

Very similar to running backs in fantasy football, closers many times need to be handcuffed by another reliever. Change of ninth inning duties in baseball seem to occur about as often as a ball carrier in the National Football League goes down injury, so having a backup plan is not a bad idea.

Without further ado, it's time for a team-by-team breakdown of the closing situations around baseball. Here is the list of enshrined stoppers, along with their handcuffs, and even a few darkhorses who could make some fantasy noise in the back of their respective pens.  

It's time to bring it home ...

AL East

Boston Red Sox

Closer: Jonathan Papelbon
Handcuff: Hideki Okajima* 
Dark horse: Manny Delcarmen

Papelbon is one of the best in the business, and can only lose his job to injury. Okajima was a success in his first year over from Japan in '07, and should mop up any saves Papelbon doesn't receive. The 26-year-old Delcarmen is the dark horse of the Red Sox's pen, as the team could choose to go with him over the left-handed Okajima in certain situations if a serious Papelbon injury occurs.       

Toronto Blue Jays

Closer: B.J. Ryan
Handcuff: Jeremy Accardo

We know what Ryan can do when healthy, but he's a bit of a question mark coming off of Tommy John surgery. All signs point to him being ready for Opening Day. If Ryan can't return to old form, the Blue Jays should feel very comfortable with Accardo stepping in, as he was very successful in the closer role last season. A must handcuff situation.

New York Yankees

Closer: Mariano Rivera
Handcuff: Joba Chamberlain*
Dark horse: LaTroy Hawkins

Rivera is the man if healthy, and Chamberlain is the unquestioned handcuff given that he's in the bullpen if/when Mariano goes down with injury. The question becomes: who will take over closing duties if Chamberlain is in the starting rotation when Rivera goes down?  Hawkins, although not a great option, may be who the Yankees turn to in that scenario.

Tampa Bay Rays

Closer: Troy Percival
Handcuff: Al Reyes
Dark horse: Dan Wheeler

It's unlikely that the 38-year-old Percival will both perform and remain healthy at the same time, so the 37-year-old Reyes should be stashed away on the benches of Percy owners. On the other hand, because Percival and Reyes have 75 years of age between them, Wheeler could become part of the mix as well. There's a good chance all three of these guys will hold "saves" value at some point during the season.

Baltimore Orioles

Closer (not official): George Sherrill
Handcuff: Dennis Sarfate
Handcuff: Greg Aquino

Welcome to the worst bullpen situation in baseball. Sherrill is a lefty with basically no closing experience, while Sarfate and Aquino are far from stable members of the Orioles' bullpen. The only reason Sarfate and Aquino are listed as handcuffs is because O's manager Dave Trembley has endorsed them as such. Try to stay away if you can, but if you must venture this way, venture in Sherrill's direction only.

AL Central

Chicago White Sox

Closer: Bobby Jenks
Handcuff: Octavio Dotel 
Dark horse: Scott Linebrink

Jenks is rock solid, saving 40-plus games in both '06 and '07. It would take a major collapse or an injury to relieve Jenks of his duties, but Dotel would likely be next of kin if either of these were to happen. Because Dotel is a major injury risk himself, Linebrink should not be far off owner's radars.     

Cleveland Indians

Closer: Joe Borowski
Handcuff: Rafael Betancourt*
Dark horse: Masahide KobayashiIt's nothing short of a fantasy baseball miracle that Borowski both held his job and saved 45 games while posting a 5.07 ERA and 1.43 WHIP in '07. If the incumbent performs in similar fashion this season, don't expect another miracle. Betancourt is an absolute stud and is worthy of the closer's role, but the Indians seem content with him pitching in the eighth inning at almost all cost. That leaves the 33-year-old Kobayashi -- who saved 227 games over his career in Japan -- as the sleeper of this bullpen.      

Detroit Tigers

Closer: Todd Jones
Handcuff: Fernando Rodney
Dark horse: Joel Zumaya*

Jones will turn 40 years old in April, and one would have to think that his arm resembles silly putty at this stage in his career. However, because he's going to be the Tigers' closer on Opening Day, he must be respected by fantasy owners. Rodney struggled through injuries and a down season in '07, but still has the pure stuff to be an efficient closer if Jones falters. Zumaya is recovering from major surgery on his right shoulder and isn't expected back until the All-Star break, but some reports have him on a faster track. If the flamethrower is healthy, he's always a threat to steal the closer role in Detroit.   

Kansas City Royals

Closer: Joakim Soria
Handcuff: Yasuhiko Yabuta 
Dark horse: Zack Greinke

Soria was fantastic in his rookie season, posting a 2.48 ERA and 0.94 WHIP while striking out 75 batters in his 69 innings of work. Soria's lack of competition for the role leaves his job even more secure than it already would be, and newly acquired Japanese reliever Yabuta seems to be the default handcuff. Greinke is expected to begin the season in the Royals' starting rotation, but because he excelled in the bullpen in '07, there's always the chance the team will move him back. 

Minnesota Twins

Closer: Joe Nathan
Handcuff: Pat Neshek* 

Nathan is Nathan, and will be Nathan as long as he's in a Twins uniform. The problem is that we don't know how long that will last into the '08 season with a contract squabble that screams "trade me." One thing is for sure; Neshek is fit for the job if needed. A must handcuff situation.

AL West

Los Angeles Angels

Closer: Francisco Rodriguez
Handcuff: Scott Shields* 
Dark horse: Justin Speier

Only a serious injury will stop K-Rod in his contract season, so Shields and Speier aren't very likely to enter the saves mix. The Rodriguez/Shields handcuff combo has been one of the best in fantasy baseball for the past few seasons, and that doesn't figure to change in '08. If things get really weird in the Angels' bullpen, Speier is third in line for save opportunities.

Oakland Athletics

Closer: Huston Street
Handcuff: Alan Embree
Dark horse: Keith Foulke

Street's job is as secure as they come with a healthy body, but because he may have set an injury trend for himself in '07, we have to weigh the other options. Embree is the guy you'll want to own if something happens to Street, as he held down the fort quite well while Huston was hurt last year. Foulke is an aging veteran who didn't pitch last season, but his experience as a closer makes him a candidate for saves if all else tumbles around him.

Seattle Mariners

Closer: J.J. Putz
Handcuff: Brandon Morrow

Putz is a "lights out" closer by any means, but if there's one reason for owners to stay away from him in '08, it's lack of a good handcuff. Morrow is a young former starting pitcher who had trouble throwing strikes last season in the Mariners' bullpen, but he figures to be the closest thing to a handcuff right now. Again, owners beware.

Texas Rangers

Closer (not official): C.J. Wilson
Handcuff: Joaquin Benoit*
Dark horse: Kazuo Fukumori

Although Rangers' manager Ron Washington hasn't made an official announcement on his closer, he's dropped plenty of hints that it will be Wilson. The 27-year-old lefty was 12-for-13 in save opportunities after Eric Gagne was traded to the Red Sox last season, and his stuff is good enough to continue that success. Benoit was superb in his 82 innings in '07, posting a 2.85 ERA and 1.17 WHIP to go along with 87 strikeouts. Wilson's leash on the job will probably be relatively short, so Benoit is well worth the handcuff. If both guys blow up in '08, owners should keep the Japanese newcomer Fukumori in mind.

NL East

Atlanta Braves

Closer: Rafael Soriano
Handcuff: Peter Moylan/Mike Gonzalez 
Dark horse: Manny Acosta

Soriano brings a career 2.93 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and .203 BAA into his first season as the Braves closer, so unless injury or ninth inning nerves get to the flamethrower, there should be no reason to worry. Gonzalez is still recovering from the Tommy John surgery he had last year, and could factor in as a handcuff a couple months into the season. At the present time, Moylan is probably the guy to own in the Braves' pen if Soriano were to suffer injury, as he posted a sparkling 1.80 ERA in 90 innings in 2007. The young and raw Acosta is the sleeper of the bunch if Moylan, Gonzalez and Soriano are all out of commission at the same time.

Note: Soriano has had minor elbow issues this spring

Florida Marlins

Closer: Kevin Gregg
Handcuff: Matt Lindstrom 
Handcuff: Justin Miller
Handcuff: Taylor Tankersley

Gregg surprised many in '07 by recording 32 saves while posting a 3.54 ERA and 1.23 WHIP in 84 innings. Gregg's three previous seasons prior to '07 suggest he's likely to fall off some this year, and there's also the possibility that he pitches well again and the Marlins decide to deal him near the trade deadline. If that's the case, the Fish have three candidates who could vie for saves. Tankersley probably has the best pure stuff, but Miller and Lindstrom are much more controlled. The choice will likely come down to which guy is pitching the best when Gregg gets injured/traded, which puts owners in an uncomfortable bind.

New York Mets

Closer: Billy Wagner
Handcuff: Aaron Heilman* 
Dark horse: Duaner Sanchez

Wagner is 36 years old and becoming more injury prone, so the need for a handcuff is evident. Heilman has been consistently solid out of the bullpen in his last three seasons, and would be the favorite for saves if Wagner goes down. Sanchez didn't pitch in '07 after undergoing major shoulder surgery, but could be a factor if he begins to establish his 2006 form at any point this year.

Philadelphia Phillies

Closer: Brad Lidge
Handcuff: Tom Gordon 
Dark horse: Brett Myers

Lidge is iffy for Opening Day after undergoing minor knee surgery this spring -- his second in the last six months. The 40-year-old Gordon is the anointed closer as of the moment and should be handcuffed along side Lidge. With very little option behind Gordon, the Phillies just might be crazy enough to pull Myers out of the starting rotation if the Lidge/Gordon combination can't holdup physically through the course of the season.

Washingtion Nationals

Closer: Chad Cordero
Handcuff: Joe Rauch* 

It's very much a one-two punch situation in Washington, with the 6-foot-11 Rauch waiting to pounce if Cordero suffers through a down stretch as he did in '07. It would be a good idea for owners to hold both of these solid relievers on their roster.

NL Central

Chicago Cubs

Closer (not official): Carlos Marmol
Handcuff: Bob Howry 
Dark horse: Kerry Wood

If "Sweet Lou" doesn't make Marmol the closer, it's the wrong decision. It's understandable that the Cubs' manager may be concerned about the youngster holding up mentally in ninth inning, but based on Marmol's '07 statistics, it's a concern that Piniella needs to come face-to-face with. If Marmol scores the role, Howry is the guy owners want to handcuff to him. Wood is certainly in the mix, but probably needs more time to establish himself as reliable reliever before the team will consider him as their closer.

Cincinnati Reds

Closer: Francisco Cordero
Handcuff: David Weathers 

Similar to the situation in Washington, the Reds have only two legitimate closing options. After receiving a monster free-agent deal this offseason, Cordero will look to continue the amazing success he had in Milwaukee in '07. Great American Ballpark shouldn't be as concerning to Cordero owners as some are making it out to be, as Miller Park isn't very pitcher friendly in its own right. The 38-year-old Weathers will step into the role if something goes wrong with Co-Co. 

Houston Astros

Closer: Jose Valverde
Handcuff: Doug Brocail, Geoff Geary, Oscar Villarreal 

The situation behind Valverde in Houston is an absolute mess. None of the aforementioned handcuffs have closer-type stuff, and it would only be a guess to put one of them ahead of the other as the next in line for saves. Much like the J.J. Putz situation in Seattle, Valverde's lack of a decent handcuff makes him a scary proposition in '08.

Milwaukee Brewers

Closer: Eric Gagne
Handcuff: Derrick Turnbow
Dark horse: Salomon Torres

Despite Gagne's troubles as a setup man in Boston last season, he can still be a very effective closer if healthy, as he proved in Texas prior to being traded. Turnbow isn't the most reliable handcuff in the fantasy baseball world, but he's the handcuff in Milwaukee all the same. Torres is only listed as a dark horse due to his previous closing experience in Pittsburgh.

Pittsburgh Pirates

Closer: Matt Capps
Handcuff: Damaso Marte*

Capps has made a nice name for himself as a talented closer on a terrible team, and chances are good that the name will remain intact this season. The left-handed Marte will assume ninth inning duties for the Pirates if Capps needs rest or hits the disabled list.

St. Louis Cardinals

Closer: Jason Isringhausen
Handcuff: Ryan Franklin

Izzy proved he can still get the job done when called upon, as he posted a 2.48 ERA and 1.07 WHIP in 65 1/3 innings last season (32 saves). The problem for the 35-year-old in '08 is obvious, and that is the Cardinals aren't likely to produce much offense, leaving save opportunities few and far between for the veteran. Franklin turned in the best pitching performance of his career in '07, flashing a 3.04 ERA and 1.01 WHIP in 80 innings, and would take over the role of closer in a pinch. 

NL West

Arizona Diamondbacks

Closer: Brandon Lyon
Handcuff: Tony Pena* 
Dark horse: Chad Qualls

The dealing of Valverde to the Astros left D'backs manager Bob Melvin with a difficult decision: Lyon or Pena as the team's closer? Melvin went with the former, leaving the 26-year-old Pena to eighth inning dirty work. While Pena may have the better "pure stuff" of the two, Lyon has prior closing experience and slightly better control. Because Lyon has a deep injury history, this is a must handcuff situation for owners. Qualls will work in front of both Pena and Lyon, and should be the unquestioned third man in the saves' line. 

Colorado Rockies

Closer: Manny Corpas
Handcuff: Brian Fuentes* 

With Corpas' sudden emergence as the Rockies closer in the team's stretch run to the World Series in '07 -- eight saves in September -- Fuentes has been relegated to eighth inning duty in '08. Of course, this is not a bad thing for the Rocks, as both men are very capable of delivering solid ninth inning work. A must handcuff situation for owners. 

Los Angeles Dodgers

Closer: Takashi Saito
Handcuff: Jonathan Broxton* 

While every fantasy owner in the universe has been waiting for Broxton to emerge as the Dodgers' stopper over the past two seasons, the 38-year-old Saito has quietly become one the best closers in baseball during that period. That's not to say Broxton has been bad, as most teams around the league would love to have an 82-inning, 99-strikeout, 2.85 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and .225 BAA closer. While Saito was fantastic in both '06 and '07, he has shown signs of a future physical breakdown, and that could come to fruition as soon as this year. Out of the must handcuff situations listed above, this one could be more important than all of them combined.

San Diego Padres

Closer: Trevor Hoffman
Handcuff: Heath Bell*
Dark horse: Cla Meredith

Talk about Hoffman's two consecutive blown saves that ended the Padres '07 season all you want, but no one can deny the 39-year-old future Hall-of-Famer of his 42 saves and 2.98 ERA over the course of last year. Hoffman remains the team's closer, and needs to be drafted by owners as such. Bell had a dominant season in '07, finishing the year with a 2.02 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 102 strikeouts in 93 1/3 innings. The 24-year-old Meredith -- known for his 34-inning scoreless streak in '06 -- is a capable closing out games if Hoffman and Bell both go down with injury.

San Francisco Giants

Closer: Brian Wilson
Handcuff: Brad Hennessey

Wilson may be the most unknown closer in the majors this spring, but he's the Giants' closer none-the-less. The soon-to-be 26-year old held a 2.28 ERA and was six-for-seven in save opportunities after being called up from the minors in early August. San Francisco is expected to be one of the worst teams in baseball, so saves should be at a premium, but Wilson could produce good ERA, WHIP and strikeout numbers over the course of the '08 season. Hennessey recorded 19 saves for the Giants in '07, but was pulled from the closer role after a major collapse in early September. He would likely take the ball in the ninth inning if Wilson struggles or suffers injury.  

* Indicates a pitcher who can help fantasy owners in middle relief, especially in ERA, WHIP, and strikeouts.